
The phone number for the "National Suicide Prevention Lifeline" is a new feature, based on some random person's suggestion. While suicide is certainly a serious issue, and not one I will treat lightly here, one can't help but notice the other links that the search result brings up.
Of course, it's not 100% Google's fault. The search engine is an automated algorithm, and it basically shows the sequence of words that the user types in. However, one has to wonder how often someone uses Google for such a purpose. If it's often enough to warrant posting a hotline, is there no way to re-direct the user to other articles and links that might prove helpful to them in such a dire time? At the very least, couldn't Google prevent any search results from popping up except the hotline?
I'm no computer scientist, but it seems like, in this case, Google is simply making a token gesture, and simply trying to protect themselves from any lawsuits.

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